Radiator-tube for automobiles.



A. P. WOLFE. RADIATOR TUBE FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED sun 8.1913.

1,146,,1 17.. Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

i'rmmw Wwrmsee A. P. WOLFE. RADIATOR TUBE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8. I913.

Pat entd July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IHQRHIS PETERS. INQ, LITHON WASHINGTON. D C

ARTHUR P. WOLFE, or VINELAND, NEW JERSEY.

RADIATOR-TUBE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed July a, 1913. Serial No. 777,863.

through which tube the circulating water for cooling the engine is passed.

An object of the invention is to provide a tube which when embodied in a radiator, will have a large cooling surface, and shaped so as to contain only a relatively thin column of water which is to be cooled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube of the above character which is relatively stiff or rigid longitudinally, and which is flexible transversely.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube of the above character with fins which are so connected to the tube that throughout a greater portion of their surface, said fins are subjected to the cooling air on all sides thereof, at the same time leaving the greatest possible amount of the surface of the tube exposed to the air.

These and other objects will in part be.

obvious, and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment .of the invention-Figure I, illustrates an elevation of an automobile radiator having my invention applied thereto. Fig. II, is a perspective view of one of the tubes used in the construction of the radiator shown in Fig. I. Fig. III, is an end view of the said tube.

The invention consists generally in the shaping of the tube so as to form recesses or spaces in the side walls thereof, which extend longitudinally of the tube substantially frotm endto end thereof. This shaping of the tube gives a relatively large cooling surface on the outer face of the tube, and also contracts the inner surface of the tube so as to form relatively thin channels for the column of water which is passing through the tube to be cooled. The tube is provided with a series of fins preferably formed by a spirally wound wire, which bridges the lon gitudinally extending recesses or spaces in the-side walls of the tube. The wire is soldered to the tube only at the extreme points of the tube. This bridging of the spaces by the fins allows the cooling air'to circulate entirely about the fins except at the points where they are attached to the tube and also about the entire surface of the tube with the exception of the said points, and

at the same time the contact at the points of attachment of the fins to the tube is sufficient to conduct the heat away from the tubes and permit radiation through the said fins.

Each spiral turn is separated from the adjacent spiral turn, and, therefore, the tube as awhole with the fins attached thereto is transversely flexible, while longitudinally it is rigid or stiff.

In Fig. I, I have illustrated the tubes in' a vertical position in the radiator-but do not wish to be limited in this, since their function would be identical in either vertical or horizontal position. These tubes may be soldered or otherwise secured to headers in the usual manner.

- Referring more in detail to the drawings, my improved radiator tube consists of a tube proper 1, which is bent or shaped so as to provide two walls 2, and 3, inclined to each other, thus forming a recess or space 4, which extends longitudinally of the tube, from end to end thereof, as shown in the drawings. On the opposite side of the tube the same is bent or shaped to form walls 5,

and 6, which are inclined to each other to form a space or recess 7. The tube is also bent to form inclined walls 8, and 9, thus forming a third space or recess 10, and on the opposite side there is a fourth space or recess 11, formed by the inclined walls 12, and 13. The inclined walls are so disposed relative to one another as to form two relatively narrow channels 14, and 15, which cross each other, and through these spaces circulates the water which is to be cooled.

My improved tube is adapted to be used in a radiator either in a horizontal position or in a vertical position as above noted. As shownin Fig. I, these tubes are joinedait their ends to headers 20, and 21, so that the water in the headers will pass through the tubes in the well known manner in this water which is to be cooled, passes through the tube, and the tube is formed with a relaferred to,

the tube area plurality of fins 16; These,-

,fins are preferably formed by winding a wire spirally about the tube, so-that each spiral turn is spiral turn,

the drawings. The ends 17, of the wire-may be soldered to the side walls of the tube, and

, is also soldered to the ex; treme points of the tube. The wi're as clearly shown in the drawings,'bridges the spaces 4, 7, 10 and 11, so that the wire is out ofcontact With the tube throughout a each spiral turn greater portion of its length. It will be,

noted that the channels 14, and. 15, formed in the tubes by the spaces 4, 7, 10, and 11, taper toward their outer ends and points of securing the fins are only tangential in character. This permits a free circulation of the air about these points of contact, where it is absolutely essential, owing to the fact that the greater portion'of the heat traveling toward the corners of the tube is given, off to the fins at these regions. tion I have provided fins which are attached to the tube at the extreme outer points there- 'of, and which are free from" the tube throughout the remainder of thelength of the. fins. The heat absorbed from the water by the tube will be conveyed to the fins, and the aircirculating freely and entirely about the fins where they bridge the spaces re- The. fins, as above noted, are spaced from one another, to a certain extent, flexible transversely. This flexibility of the tube facilitates the insertion of the tubes in the headers, while the tubes longitudinally are rigid and stiff.

From the above construction, it will be apparent that there are columns of air passing through each of the spaces 4, 7, 10, and 11,'and this air not only quickly and efliciently cools the fins, but also comes di 'rectly into contact with practically the en tire surface of the tube, because the wire fin only touches the tube at a few small points,

(in'this case four to each turn). The

spaced from the adjacent. as clearly shown in Fig. IL of' for the same "construction, wherein By this construe will efficiently keep said fins cool.-

and this permith the tube to beto establish the required conduction ofthe heat from the surface of the tube to the fin, wh ile'the reduction of these points: of contact to the small amount of surface which is accomplished by theconstruction leaves almostthe entire surface 'of,the tube exposed for the purpose of radia'tinand like wise almost the entire surface ofit he fin free purpose. Furthermore, by this I v the" fins are 'spaced from one another and the tube is formed as to 1 above described, the tubes may be secured rigidly at their ends between the headers and yet they will expand sflfliciently to compensa-te for'the freezing of the Waterwithout bursting" I a It is obvious that'mino'r changes may bev made in the details of are; construction and the shaping ofthe parts!"withoutdeparting from the spirit of the in ention, as set forth in the appended claims. .Having'thus described my invention, 1 claim: v

l. The combination of a radiator tube having inwardly bent portions extending longitudinally of "the tube, and fins extend- 7a ing transversely about the tube; attached tangentially at the extrenie points of the tube and bridging the intervening'recesses, each spiral turn of said wire being. separated from each adjacent spiral turn.

In testimony whereof, I have hereu'nto' signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this twenty-seventh day "of J une, 1913.

ARTHUR P. WOLFE.

Witnesses:

JAMES H; BELL, E. L. FULLERTON. 

